In recent years, that experience has been shaped by significant change. Like many transit systems around the world, OC Transpo experienced ridership and revenue losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with major network adjustments, rail expansion delays, and ongoing budget pressures. Ridership has not fully rebounded, contributing to continued financial and operational strain.

The shift has been visible. Transit mode share in Ottawa declined from 14 per cent in 2011 to 8 per cent in 2022. The City’s most recent Commuter Attitudes Survey found that 77 per cent of people who once took transit now use personal vehicles instead. 

Transportation remains Ottawa’s largest source of community greenhouse gas emissions. Nationally, cars, SUVs and light-duty passenger trucks account for nearly a quarter of emissions. But the impact of automobiles goes beyond tailpipes. They influence how cities grow — encouraging sprawl, increasing infrastructure demands and taking up land that could otherwise be green space or vibrant public places. 

Public conversation around transit has grown more critical. And when people feel greater comfort or predictability behind the wheel, it becomes harder to entice them back onto a bus or train. 

Rebuilding ridership, then, is not only about service. It is about how the experience of transit feels. 

The solution

We decided to test that idea. EnviroCentre designed a small, real-world pilot to explore whether a simple shift in atmosphere could influence perception. What would happen if waiting for a bus felt different? If a station felt less transactional and more human? 

In collaboration with OC Transpo and the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, we launched Tunes & Tracks, a live music pilot at three transit stations across Ottawa. Local musicians performed during peak hours, transforming a familiar space into something momentarily shared. 

For a few hours at a time, train stations sounded different. 

The series featured performances by OK Naledi, Dr. Jazz Band, and closed with Juliette Lambert.

From the outset, the project was structured as a test. Alongside the performances, we conducted nearly 300 on-site intercept surveys to understand how the experience shaped people’s perceptions of transit. 

The results speak for themselves:

• 95% of respondents said the performances had a positive impact on their transit experience that day. 
• 89% of people surveyed said live entertainment makes transit a more enjoyable mode of transportation. 

The numbers told one story. The station told another. People lingered. They filmed short videos. They tapped their feet while watching the arrivals board. Some spoke with the musicians. Some spoke with strangers. A few danced before heading home. 

“This is just what I needed after a tough day at work.” 

“It was a really nice way to start my day.” 

“It feels like we’re in a big city where cool things are happening.” 

The performances also generated positive coverage from CTV Ottawa and Radio-Canada (8:40), as well as strong engagement across social media. For a brief period, the conversation around transit shifted — from delays and disruptions to music and shared experience.  

Importantly, the pilot did not attempt to solve every operational challenge facing the system. It asked a focused question:

Can small, human-centred interventions improve how transit feels? 

The evidence suggests they can. 

While the magic of Tunes and Tracks lay partly in its surprise, the findings point to broader opportunity. Cultural programming at transit stations — whether rotating performances, seasonal activations or a revived O-Buskers program — could help strengthen the everyday experience of transit in Ottawa. 

Infrastructure moves people. Experience moves perception. 

By designing and evaluating this pilot, EnviroCentre helped demonstrate that even modest interventions can generate measurable shifts in mood, conversation and public sentiment. 

When cities want to test new approaches before scaling them, we help design experiments that are practical, evidence-based and rooted in how people actually experience public space. Because sometimes, changing how something feels is the first step toward changing how it functions.  

Update: The music continues!

In March 2026, OC Transpo relaunched its O-Buskers program, bringing live music back to transit stations across Ottawa. The program invites local artists to perform and helps make transit a more enjoyable part of the daily commute. To learn more or apply, visit OC Transpo’s website.